Applying effects

- The easiest way to think about Effects…is to think of them like filters…inside of a Photoshop document.…Now generally you apply Effects directly to layers…inside of a composition inside of After Effects.…So let me show you what I'm talking about.…I wanna start first by previewing our animation.…So I'll press the space bar to begin the preview.…Notice I've got this kind of cool logo animation…that's animating into the scene.…But it's sorta hard to see…over top of that really busy background,…and bright background.…

So what I want to do…is actually add some Effects…to that background video…to better make our logo pop off out of the scene.…I'm gonna press the space bar to stop playback here.…And the first thing you want to do…is move your current time indicator…to a place where you can see…your logo over top of the footage.…So let's position it right here…around two seconds and three frames.…Now I want to start by…blurring out my background video layer.…So I'm gonna select layer three…and then go up to the Effect menu…

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Released

7/10/2015

After Effects CC Essential Training covers all of the fundamentals required to get new video editors and mograph artists up to speed with this powerful program. The first two chapters explore the key concepts, terminology, and interface of After Effects, and break down the six foundations of After Effects mastery—compositions, layers, animation, effects, 3D, and rendering. Follow-up chapters introduce a variety of real-world projects designed to reinforce the skills you've learned, such as:

Building graphics such as lower thirds, logos, and credit rolls

Repairing and retiming video

Keying green-screen footage

Rotoscoping

Animating a 3D logo

Motion tracking

Your guide, Ian Robinson, wraps up the course with some project management techniques that will help you merge projects from multiple editors, and get you in the habit of archiving completed work.